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Adolf Butenandt. Portrait of Adolf Friedrich Johann Butenandt (1903-95), German biochemist and hormone pioneer. After studying chemistry at Marburg, Butenandt began studying sex hormones. In 1929 he isolated the female hormone oestrone independently of Doisy. In 1931 Butenandt isolated the male hormone androsterone and found that it was a derivative of cholesterol. He synthesised another male hormone, testosterone, in 1934. In the same year he also isolated the female hormone, progesterone. He showed that all of these hormones were types of steroids. He was awarded the 1939 Nobel chemistry prize but was forbidden to accept it by the Nazi German government.